Field of application
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The present invention is generally applicable in the field of construction and, in particular, to the sector of tinsmithing.
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In more detail, the present invention relates to a drainpipe for the collection of fluids such as, for example, rainwater.
Prior art
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Tinsmithing is the activity, mainly artisanal, of processing sheet metal used especially in the field of construction in building drainpipes, gutters, flashings, collars and more.
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In particular, the present invention refers to drainpipes, i.e. vertical channels or pipes to discharge rainwater coming from the channels of a roof or from a terrace. They typically consist of a metal tube, or plastic material, anchored to the vertical walls.
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Generally the drainpipes are composed of several tubular elements joined to one another and connected to the gutter (or terrace outlet) and terminating inside the stormwater discharge well or sewer, or, terminating with a curved cast iron element shaped to move the wastewater away from the wall towards the surrounding ground.
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In the prior art, rainwater is typically conveyed into the stormwater or sewer together with sewage, causing more and more often the clogging of pipelines with the consequent spillage of water in roads.
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In other cases, the rainwater outflowing into the drainpipes is dispersed to the ground, which is made impermeable by the flooring and therefore not suitable for absorbing it.
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Moreover, in addition to the aforementioned drawbacks regarding the disposal of rainwater, the structure of the most common drainpipes does not provide for collection points suitable for conveying rainwater into collection tanks for subsequent use, for example, for irrigation use, for industrial, food use or for domestic use.
Presentation of the invention
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The object of the present invention is to make available a drainpipe which allows to at least partially overcome the drawbacks highlighted above.
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In particular, the object of the present invention is to make available a drainpipe shaped to collect at least the rainwater passing through the drainpipe itself so as to convey it, for example, inside a tank for irrigation, industrial, food and/or domestic use.
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Another object of the present invention is to make available a drainpipe comprising an automated catcher, i.e. one that in no way requires the intervention of an operator for its operation.
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Said objects, as well as others which will become clearer below, are achieved by a drainpipe comprising one or more elements adapted to form at least one conduit containing therein at least one water catcher in accordance with the following claims which are to be considered an integral part of the present patent.
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In particular, the water catcher comprises at least one first section reducer having at least one first inlet section shaped to allow the outflow of at least a portion of fluids into the water catcher and at least one second outlet section smaller than the inlet section.
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In addition, the catcher also comprises at least one water conveyor operatively positioned downstream of the first section reducer and which is shaped to convey the fluids towards a first opening operatively connected with at least one collector fluidically separated from the conduit and, when the outflow through the first opening is prevented, towards at least one second opening shaped to reintroduce the fluids into the drainpipe conduit.
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Advantageously, the catcher of the invention allows the passing fluids, substantially rainwater, to be collected in the drainpipe and then conveyed to a collector separated from the drainpipe conduit itself.
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Still advantageously, the collector can be connected with an accumulation vat or a tank to be able to accumulate the collected water and use it later, for example, for irrigation, livestock or other use.
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From what has been said, it is evident that the objects described are also achieved by a completion kit for at least one drainpipe comprising at least one water catcher according to what is disclosed above.
Brief description of the drawings
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Further features and advantages of the invention will become more evident in light of the detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a drainpipe according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 represents a sectional diagram of the drainpipe of the invention,
- Figure 2 represents a section of the diagram of the drainpipe of Fig. 1,
- Figure 3 represents a sectional diagram of an embodiment variant of the drainpipe of the invention.
Detailed description of an exemplary preferred embodiment
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With reference to the attached figures, in particular to figures 1 and 2, a drainpipe 1 is described comprising elements 3, typically but not necessarily tubular elements, adapted to make a conduit 4 according to the invention. Obviously, the number of elements constituting the conduit should not be understood as limiting to different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, the elements are one or more than one.
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In particular, the drainpipe 1 of the invention contains within the conduit 4 a water catcher 6. Obviously, the number of water catchers contained in the drainpipe should not be understood as limiting to different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, there are multiple catchers.
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According to an aspect of the invention, the catcher 6 comprises a first section reducer 9 having a first inlet section 10 shaped to allow the outflow of a portion of fluids inside the catcher 6 itself and a second outlet section 11 smaller than the first.
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In other words, the fluids discharged into the drainpipe 1, generally rainwater, outflow into the catcher 6 through a first section reducer 9, which has a first section 10 with a larger area than the second section 11.
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Advantageously, the variation in section of the first reducer 9 allows, with the same flow rate in and out, to increase the outflow rate of the fluids collected by the catcher 6.
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According to the embodiment of the invention being described, the first inlet section 10 corresponds to the dimensions of the nearest section 15 of the conduit 4 of the drainpipe 1 so as to advantageously allow substantially all the fluids discharged through the drainpipe 1 to be collected inside the catcher 6.
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Obviously, the dimensions of the first inlet section should not be understood as limiting to different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, they are smaller than the nearest section of the conduit.
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By way of non-limiting example, in the case of tubular elements 3 with a diameter of 100 mm, the first reducer 9 has an inlet section 10 equal to 100 mm, so as to collect all the water entering the drainpipe 1, and an outlet section 11 with a diameter of 60 mm.
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Furthermore, typically, but not necessarily, the first reducer 9 has a frustoconical shape so as to guide the fluids avoiding abrupt variations in section and thus create deposition/stagnation zones.
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According to another aspect of the invention, the catcher 6 further comprises a water conveyor 18, i.e. a device shaped to direct the flow of the fluids, operatively positioned downstream of the first reducer 9.
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This conveyor 18 is shaped to convey the outflow of the fluids coming from the first reducer 6 towards a first opening 20 operatively connected to a collector 21 fluidly separated from the conduit 4 and, in the event that such outflow is prevented, towards a second opening 22 shaped to reintroduce the fluids into the conduit 4.
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In other words, the conveyor 18 defines two paths for the outflow of the fluids entering the catcher 6: a main path, in which through the first opening 20 the fluids are diverted towards the collector 21 and then to a tank, not represented in the figures, and an alternative path, which arises from being hindered while proceeding along the main path, in which through the second opening 22 the fluids are reintroduced into the conduit 4 to outflow along the drainpipe 1.
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Thus, advantageously, by means of the catcher 6 the drainpipe 1 of the invention allows to divert the water automatically towards the collector 21, which can reach a tank for the accumulation of rainwater, or, in the case of tank filling or interceptions of the pipe, to let the outflow continue along the conduit 4 downstream of the catcher 6.
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Still advantageously, this allows, as mentioned, not to disperse the fluids discharged along the drainpipe 1 within the stormwater pipelines, sewers or to the ground, limiting, if not eliminating, the risk of pipeline clogging and consequent flooding.
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Furthermore, still advantageously, the simplicity of construction and the lack of moving mechanical components in the catcher 6 make the capture itself simple and economically advantageous.
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In fact, the outflow of fluids to and along the collector 21 does not require "active" devices, such as pumps or turbines, as the operation of the collection is based on the principle of gravity and communicating vessels. Moreover, in the case of water collection inside a tank, due to the same principles, the outflow from the tank might not require external devices.
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In addition thereto, the catcher 6 of the invention does not comprise valves, taps or equivalent devices for controlling the outflow of water towards the tank. Advantageously, this allows to eliminate any mechanical element guaranteeing the automatic discharge of the water to the tank.
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In other words, the drainpipe 1 of the invention also comprises a tank, not represented in the figures, operatively connected to the collector 21 without any type of device for regulating and closing the flow of the fluids so as to allow the automation of the drainpipe.
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Regarding the positioning of the catcher 6 inside the drainpipe 1, it is not to be understood as limiting, in fact, the choice of the dimension in which to place it is easily identifiable by a person skilled in the artbased, for example, on the pressure necessary to reach a possible tank and/or the accessibility to the catcher 6 itself for any maintenance operations.
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Regarding the hindrance to the outflow along the main path, i.e. the outflow through the first opening 20 and the collector 21, according to the embodiment of the invention being described, it may depend on several factors such as, for example, the filling of a tank or an overpressure generated inside the tank itself.
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Furthermore, according to an embodiment variant of the invention not represented in the figures, the passage for the first opening is controlled over by a device comprising a detector, for example a timer or a detector of the amount of precipitation fell. Obviously, these aspects should not be understood as limiting to different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, the closure of the collector is controlled by means of a closure device that can also be operated remotely.
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According to a further aspect of the invention, the catcher 6 also comprises a second section reducer 25, typically but not necessarily arranged coaxially to the first reducer 9, operatively interposed between the conveyor 18 and the collector 21.
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Advantageously, the second reducer 25 allows to adapt the outlet of the catcher 6 to the collector 21 while increasing the speed of the outflow of the fluids with equal flow rate.
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Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the invention being described, the second reducer 25 has a frustoconical shape so as to guide the fluids avoiding sudden variations in section and, therefore, avoiding deposit/stagnation zones.
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Obviously, also the dimensions of the second reducer are not to be understood as limiting to different embodiment variants of the invention. By way of a non-limiting example, the reduction ratio of the second section reducer is 60/25 mm.
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According to the embodiment of the invention described, the conduit 4 of the drainpipe 1 comprises a through hole 28 adapted to allow the outlet of the collector 21 from the conduit 4.
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Furthermore, to stabilize the positioning of the collector 21 the hole can optionally be provided with reinforcing elements 30, to which the collector 21 can be directly welded.
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According to the embodiment variant of the invention represented in figure 3, the collector 121 develops coaxially to the conduit 104 of the drainpipe 101 so as to be hidden from view.
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Obviously, the nature and point of exit of the collector from the conduit should not be understood as limiting to different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, the collector exits the conduit in any position.
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According to another aspect of the invention, the second water catcher 6 is monolithic. Advantageously, this allows to simplify the execution of the catcher 6, which can be made, for example, by shearing, welding and forming or with moulded and welded elements and then inserted inside the tubular elements constituting the drainpipe.
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Obviously, this method for executing the catcher should not be understood as limiting to different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, it is realised by 3D printer.
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According to the embodiment of the invention described herein, the drainpipe 1 itself is made in a single piece. That is, the elements 3 of the conduit 4 and the catcher 6 are in a single piece.
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Advantageously, this makes it possible to simplify the installation of the drainpipe 1 which can also be inserted in drainpipes already in place by replacing only the portion of pipeline equal in length to the drainpipe 1 of the invention. In fact, still advantageously, the drainpipe 1 is inserted into the pipes already in place by means of a male/female interlocking system without the need for screws or other means for coupling.
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According to a further aspect of the invention, the drainpipe 1 optionally comprises a mesh, not shown in the figures, shaped to prevent the discharge therein of solid portions that could cause the catcher 6 to clog.
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In light of the above, it is evident that the object of the invention is also a completion kit for a drainpipe, not represented in the figures, comprising a water catcher 6 according to what is disclosed above.
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Advantageously, the kit of the invention allows the catcher 6 to be installed in any drainpipe, whether new or already in place.
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In addition, according to an aspect of the invention, the completion kit also comprises a coating, typically called a trunk, shaped to contain the catcher 6, which coating is shaped so as to couple to the elements of a drainpipe by blending with them.
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In other words, the coating is shaped and constructed of materials the same as or similar to the elements of a drainpipe so that its insertion along the conduit is not evident.
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In fact, operationally, for the installation of the completion kit in drainpipes already in use, it is sufficient to insert the catcher 6 inside the drainpipe itself or, alternatively, it is possible to remove a section of the conduit and replace it with the coating containing the catcher 6.
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Furthermore, the coating can be shaped to be inserted both in the end sections, i.e. in the junction points of the tubular elements and in continuous sections.
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By way of a non-limiting example, the ratio between the diameter of the tubular elements of the drainpipe and the length of the coating is 2:1.
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A complete description of the completion kit of the invention is omitted here as it would be repetitive of what has already been written on the subject during the description of the drainpipe 1. What is observed is that it allows to achieve all the advantages mentioned above.
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In light of the foregoing, it can be therefore understood that the completion kit of the invention achieves all the set purposes.
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In particular, it allows a catcher to be installed inside a rainfall without visually impacting the structure of the drainpipe itself.
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Furthermore, by means of the catcher, the invention makes it possible to channel the fluids discharged along the drainpipe to, for example, a collection tank and, subsequently, to use the rainwater for irrigation, industrial, livestock or other purposes.
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The invention is subject to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the appended claims. All the details and steps can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.